Spray Paint Your Way to Jazzy Garden Art

Oh, what a can of spray paint will do!

Maybe I’m cheap, or maybe it’s just too much fun to spray paint things, but I gotta admit, most of my garden decor comes from the thrift store. Now, it didn’t look this way on the shelf.

Most objects are dusty, grimy and…well…nothing you’d want to put out in the garden. Actually, I’m kind of glad most people skip right over it because that leaves it for me!

But lurking underneath that discarded home decor item is one-of-a kind garden art ready to shine. It just need a coat or two of spray paint.

Finding garden art at the Thrift Store

So, what exactly should you be looking out for? Anything that reminds you of the garden, from an old watering can to a critter, be it plastic, wood or metal; though metal really holds up well in the outdoors. Keep an eye out for bunnies, butterflies, frogs and owls. And mystical creatures associated with the garden like fairies or elves.

Kitchen iron trivets are great. Interior decor (like the wall art above) transfers beautifully to the garden. Look for a sun shape, a heart shape or even something that’s just abstract geometrical design. Don’t worry about the color!

You can always embellish something, too. In the round metal wall art piece, I glued blue glass beads to the centers to give it some sparkle in the sunlight.

Would you believe this gorgeous little butterfly was an old, brass knik-knak? It was kind of greasy when I picked it up. But it was still pretty in a way. I didn’t have any particular scheme in mind when I grabbed a few cans of spray paint. Although it is small, it’s one of my favorite garden decor pieces that I put out every summer.

Bigger things to Spray Paint

How about a bicycle? Nothing is more sweet in a country-cottage garden than a bicycle with a basket of flowers. You can almost always find an old bike for a few dollars at the thrift store. It doesn’t even have to function. Wash it up good, choose your favorite color and spray paint your way to charming garden art!

Old Tires

Old tires are FREE! Check your local buy/sell/trade Facebook Marketplace. Then follow this wonderful tutorial from DIYjoy.com and spray paint your way to a tea party!

Hub Caps

Happy Hub Cap Flowers from MakeitaGarden.com

As an artist, I can’t think of anything I’d rather be doing on a warm summer day than spray painting hub caps. OK, yes, I can, but I gotta get it done before the cottonwood starts flying.

Plastic fish trays

“Go Fish!” School of Fish from MakeitaGarden.com

Fish swimming through the garden is so whimsical. It just so happens that fish are a fairly common theme for summer entertaining. So, if you run across any clear plastic fish-shaped trays at the Thrift Store, snatch them up, pronto!

Apply spray paint to ONE SIDE only! The sunlight shining through really makes colors glisten. Choose silver or gray paint and these plastic fellows will take on the appearance of a more upscale artwork.

A few Spray Paint tips

Here are a few tips about using spray paint that will help make your garden art project worth the time and effort:

Have Fun This is simple yard art, not a museum piece, so it doesn’t have to be absolutely perfect. The point is to have fun! So, a lot of the stuff you may read about prepping the surface before painting might be a step you’d want to skip.

At a minimum, 1) clean the item by hand washing with regular dish soap and water to remove dirt, grease and grim and to help the paint stick. 2) Dry thoroughly. 3) shiny metal: Use finishing grade sandpaper to lightly rough the surface to help the paint stick.

Things to Consider

1. DO IT OUTSIDE Don’t have a warm garage or don’t want fumes seeping into the house? No problem. But wait for a warm day above 60 degrees. No wind and at least lower humidity levels. Paint goes on much more fluidly when it’s warm.
2. USE A PRIMER COAT Up to you! Because I sell many of my spray-painted garden crafts, I always go the extra mile and use a primer. Yes, today’s spray paint includes a primer, but I still get a nicer finish with a separate application of primer.
3. SHAKE CAN WELL We have cars that drive themselves but after 50 years, we still have to shake the can until it feels like our arm is gonna fall off! Shaking doesn’t just mix the paint, but pressurizes the can, too. Keep a rag handy to wipe the tip so it doesn’t clog up. TIP: If you wanna look around on the Internet, there are some commercial and home made contraptions that will do the shaking for you.
4. Apply the paint with a broad sweeping motion. Do a light coat just for minimal coverage at first, and then a 2nd coat. Two coats are better than a single heavy one that tends to run and drip.
5. BUGS, SEEDS and other airborne debris It’s frustrating to have a mosquito or dandelion seed land in your perfect paint job. You’ll be tempted to try to pick it out, but that usually ends up making it worse. Allow the paint to fully dry. Often, debris caught in the paint will brush off after the paint is dry. If not, I have used a very fine “finishing” grade sandpaper and gently sanded and re-sprayed. Wait the full recommended 3 days before re-spraying so the paint will not wrinkle or crack.

Final Thoughts

There’s all kinds of cool things waiting for you at the Thrift Store or Garage Sale. Although they may not look too attractive at first, don’t pass it up. With a little imagination on your part, some new jazzy art will make an appearance in your yard or garden.

I hope you’re inspired to see what YOU can do with a little spray paint. Perhaps you’ll try one of these whimsical crafts this summer. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Ready. Set. PAINT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!